STAND. COM. REP. NO. 1894

 

Honolulu, Hawaii

                  

 

RE:    H.C.R. No. 170

       S.D. 1

 

 

 

Honorable Colleen Hanabusa

President of the Senate

Twenty-Fourth State Legislature

Regular Session of 2007

State of Hawaii

 

Madam:

 

     Your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs, to which was referred H.C.R. No. 170 entitled:

 

"HOUSE CONCURRENT RESOLUTION REQUESTING THE DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE TO ESTABLISH A TASK FORCE TO DEVELOP LONG-TERM SOLUTIONS TO EFFECTIVELY PROTECT THE LIVESTOCK INDUSTRY IN HAWAII,"

 

begs leave to report as follows:

 

     The purpose of this measure is to ensure the longevity and viability of the livestock industry in Hawaii by requesting the Department of Agriculture to convene a task force to develop long‑term solutions to effectively protect the livestock industry.

 

     Specifically, this measure requests that the Department of Agriculture establish a task force to:

 

     (1)  Examine the current policies, procedures, and operations of livestock farms in Hawaii;

 

     (2)  Explore and identify best practices and any other available options to develop long-term solutions to effectively protect the livestock industry in Hawaii; and

 

     (3)  Establish findings, and identify and recommend solutions to issues involving satisfying livestock feed requirements.

 

     Testimony in support of this measure was submitted by the Department of Agriculture; the College of Tropical Agriculture and Human Resources, University of Hawaii; the Hawaii Farm Bureau Federation; the Hawaii Teamsters and Allied Workers Local 996; the Hawaii Egg Producers Association Cooperative; Horizon Lines, LLC; and one individual.

 

     Your Committee finds that the cost of feeding livestock in Hawaii is significantly higher than on the mainland and this higher cost threatens local livestock producers with closure.  Hawaii relies heavily on overseas shipping for a majority of its food and products for food production; thus, if local livestock producers go out of business, the State will become even more dependent on imported foods and will lose the option of buying perishable goods, such as beef, milk, eggs, poultry, and pork, at their freshest.  Your Committee recognizes that S.B. No. 1307 and H.B. No. 1221, introduced during the 2007 Regular Session, both establish a livestock revitalization program.  However, the measures will only provide a short-term solution to one of the many issues that the livestock industry in Hawaii faces.  Thus, your Committee believes that the establishment of a task force to develop long-term solutions will assist in ensuring the longevity and viability of the Hawaii's livestock industry.

 

     Your Committee has amended this measure by:

 

     (1)  Adding an additional stakeholder to the task force by including members representing the various sectors of Hawaii's transportation industry to gain a broader perspective and more appropriately address the transportation concerns of livestock feed; and

 

     (2)  Making technical, nonsubstantive amendments for the purposes of style and consistency.

 

     As affirmed by the record of votes of the members of your Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs that is attached to this report, your Committee concurs with the intent and purpose of H.C.R. No. 170, as amended herein, and recommends its adoption in the form attached hereto as H.C.R. No. 170, S.D. 1.

 


Respectfully submitted on behalf of the members of the Committee on Water, Land, Agriculture, and Hawaiian Affairs,

 

 

 

____________________________

RUSSELL S. KOKUBUN, Chair